Adjustable hat-gromet.



I c. A. BURT.

ADJUSTABLE HAT GROMET.'

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1915.

1,185,979. Patented June 6,1916.

Tm: COLUMBIA PmNouIAPH co., WASHINGTON, [L c.

CHARLES A..BURT, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

ADJUSTABLE HAT-GROMET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed. March 23, 1915. Serial No. 16,499.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BURT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Hat-Gromets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.-

The present invention relates to a hatstifiening band of adjustable length, such as is used for instance to give form to the extended circular or quasi-circular crown of a sailors hat. In thislatter connection a band of this kind is known as a gromet.

The object of the invention is to provide such a hat band as can be instantly altered as to its length, making it thereby adjustable to hat-s of different sizes. In sailors hats this device is also useful to accommodate the gromet to changes in size of the hat, due to shrinkage from wetting or other causes.

The invention is shown in certain preferred forms in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side view of a sailors hat with the gromet inserted, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the adjusting clip in place, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the clip, Fig. 4 is a transverse section thereof on the line 4l1 in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modified form of clip.

A sailors hat of conventional pattern usually has a rim 10, and a soft or flexible crown 11, which is given shape by an internal gromet shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The ends of this band 12 are made to overlap, as in Figs. .2 and 3, and in my improvement the overlapping portions are passed through a clip, comprising a base 13 having turned up edges 14 between which are pivotally mounted two jaws 15. The outer tips of these jaws are firmly held down against the band 12 by a spring. In the form shown this spring takes the form can be relieved to permit the band to be given a new position, in which it is held by the jaws when the thumb pressure is re leased. The inner ends of the jaws, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are curved inwardly and are somewhat widely separated. As shown in Fig. 5, these ends may lie-substantially in the same plane and be brought together, so as almost to touch. Indeed, variousforms can be given to the various parts of the gromet without departing from my invention.

lVhat I claim is- 1. An expansible hat gromet, comprising a resilient strip having its ends overlapping to form an adjustable band, a base mounted over the overlapping ends of said band and provided with inwardly projecting 'flanges, and relatively spaced spring-impressed gripping jaws pivoted to said flanges and normallv adapted to clamp the overlapping ends of said strip together, substantially as described.

2. An expansible hat gromet, comprising a resilient strip having its ends overlapping to form an adjustable band, a base mounted over the overlapping ends of said band and provided with inwardly projecting flanges, oppositely disposed relatively spaced gripping jaws pivoted to said flanges, and a wire spring connected to the pivots of said jaws and having its free ends engaging said jaws and normally pressing same into the gripping position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. BURT. Witnesses:

KATHARINE C. MEAD, Gno F. BYRNE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

